Author: KMAN Staff

In the event of a disaster, Wamego is prepared. At Tuesday’s City Commission meeting, City Manager Merl Page asked for approval to join KSMAP, a standardized collaborative mutual aid agency. Page said after recent natural disasters in Greensburg and Reading ,FEMA said if a community requested aid, they needed to belong to a mutual aid agency and KSMAP was formed. According to Page, the group encompasses all utilities that would be affected in a disaster. He said KMEA (Kansas Municipal Energy Agency) will remain independent, but will be joining KSMAP. At the last meeting, the Governing Body asked the Assistant City Attorney…

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The Manhattan City commission approved of a new sales tax resolution which will be placed on ballots in November for voter approval. Manhattan City staff presented information on the proposal and projected data on the effects.  The presentation stated that for every dollar spent in economic development the city would see a return of $10.35, and starting in 2014 mill levies would begin to decrease. The resolution met some opposition from Commissioner Jim Sherow.  Sherow felt the proposal was too vague in defining what actually constitutes economic development, and possessed a property tax relief portion that would not bring relief…

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A former Fort Riley soldier has testified he was in a financial bind when he married a Jamaican immigrant so he could get more money from the military and she could get her green card. The testimony came Tuesday in the federal trial of 28-year-old Shannakay Hunter in Wichita. Hunter, who lives in Bronx, New York, is charged with conspiracy, marriage fraud and making a false statement to the government. Joshua Priest was an Army private stationed at Fort Riley when he and Hunter married in 2010. He has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to…

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A central Kansas man has pleaded guilty to killing a golden eagle while he was hunting coyote near Cedar Bluff Reservoir earlier this year. The U.S. Attorney’s office says Chad Irvin (35), of La Crosse, entered the plea Tuesday in federal court in Wichita. He was sentenced to 50 hours of community service and assessed $8,000 in fines and restitution. Eagles are protected under federal law. Irvin admitted firing at the eagle twice after spotting it Jan. 9 in Trego County. The injured bird was recovered and sent to the Great Bend zoo for veterinary care. Officials…

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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) The Kansas Supreme Court will offer live, online video streaming of oral arguments beginning next week. The court has offered live audio streaming of arguments since 2004. Chief Justice Lawton Nuss announced the addition of video streaming Tuesday. Nuss says it’s intended to make the judicial process more accessible to the public. He says the justices believe the service will also benefit schools, colleges and universities. The high court will hear arguments Monday through Friday next week from 9 a.m. to noon. Nuss noted that the week’s docket includes arguments Aug. 31 on a case of broad…

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SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) A plan to provide housing and mentoring for ex-inmates from the Hutchinson Correctional Facility has been rejected. The South Hutchinson City Council voted Monday night to deny a permit for the proposal from a nonprofit group, Prairie Lighthouse Inc. The Hutchinson News reports many residents opposed the plan, saying they were concerned about crime and declining property values. Council members said before voting that it was important to respect the community’s wishes. Prairie Lighthouse had hoped to turn an abandoned nursing home into housing and provide mentoring and services to help inmates transition back to society.

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) Supporters and opponents of a new anti-discrimination ordinance in Hutchinson have presented dueling petitions to the county clerk. The Hutchinson City Council approved an ordinance June 5 that prohibits people from being fired or evicted because they are gay, lesbian or bisexual. The Hutchinson News reports opponents seeking to repeal the ordinance delivered petitions to the clerk last Thursday. Supporters who are seeking to expand the protections submitted their petitions on Friday. The county clerk office has three business days to determine whether the petitions have enough signatures to require action by the Hutchinson City Council. If…

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